When it’s all about comfort food, you can’t really tell on par with the few things that are better than slow-cooked meat. While pulled pork steals the show, pulled ham recipe is a rich, savory spin on the classic: tender, tasty, and incredibly versatile. Whether you’re throwing a party, cooking for the week, or just yearning for something hearty and delicious, pulled ham recipe is worth adding into your kitchen repertoire.
First Things First: Why Pulled Ham?
Pulled ham, compared to the holiday hams served in slices, is all the more enticing because it shreds beautifully with slow cooking for sandwiches, tacos, casseroles, or even baked potatoes and mac and cheese. It has a naturally salty, smoky flavor that makes it pretty much wow without much seasoning needed.
Best yet, pulled ham recipe can be made using leftover ham or a fresh ham roast, so there’s not much need for having it on hand to realize the creativity with it.
Choosing the Right Cut
Before diving headfirst into the process, it is also important to select the right cut of meat. You’ll ideally want a bone-in ham roast or picnic ham with a good bit of fat marbling running through it. The fat helps keep the meat moist while slow cooking and adds an important depth of flavor. But a boneless ham will also lend itself well, especially if convenience means a lot to you.
For instance, if you have leftover holiday ham, you have already accomplished half the work in making this dish. On the other hand, if you don’t have the luxury of leftovers, find a cured, unsliced ham roast-that is, the kind that does wonders when it is slow-cooked for several hours.
Gathering Ingredients
Well, of course, there is a straightforward recipe, or else it would not allow great customization for individual taste. Here, then, is a basic ingredient list to help get started:
3 to 4 lbs ham (bone or no bone)
1 cup apple cider or chicken broth
2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
1 tablespoon brown sugar or maple syrup
One teaspoon smoked paprika
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
Optional: BBQ sauce, hot sauce, or mustard glaze
Those are sweet-salty-sour ingredients for the perfect balance-great in the development of the ham without being overwhelming.
Next Step: Cooking the Ham Low and Slow
With your ingredients all prepared, it’s time to get cooking. The slow cooker is the easiest method, but you can also use an oven or Dutch oven if preferred.
Slow Cooker Method:
Place the ham in the slow cooker.
Whisk together the cider, mustard, sugar, and spices and pour them over the ham.
Cover and cook on low for 6-8 hours until the meat is tender and falls apart.
Once done, take the ham out and allow it to cool slightly.
Using two forks, shred the meat, discarding any large pieces of fat or bone.
At this point, you can either return the pulled ham recipe to the slow cooker and mix it with some of the juices, or toss with your favorite BBQ sauce for an extra punch of flavor.
Serving Suggestions
Now the fun part: serve your pulled ham. Thanks to its versatility, you can get creative here.
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Pulled Ham recipe Sandwiches-Toasted bun piled high with coleslaw and pickles.
Ham Tacos-Soft tortillas served with avocado, lime, and spicy crema.
Ham Mac and Cheese-Mix in with your favorite mac & cheese recipe for an extra protein twist.
Breakfast Hash-Potatoes, eggs, and peppers make a hearty brunch.
Baked Potato-An easy dinner of baked potato topped with pulled ham, cheese, and sour cream.
Also, pulled ham recipe stores very well, so it’s a great candidate for meal preparation. Just portion it out into containers and chill for four days or freeze it a little longer.
Some Useful Tips
Don’t skimp on the liquid. Apple juice, broth, or yes, even cola, will help break the ham down and flavor it.
Be careful with salt. Ham is salty by nature, so be judicious with any extra salt until after cooking.
Be imaginative with leftovers. Utilize pulled ham for soups, omelets, pasta, and rice dishes.
The End
However, pulled ham recipe is a real-life app for easy and flavorful food, bringing all the savory richness of traditional ham with the tender, shredded texture we love in pulled meats. Versatile to the core- absolutely foolproof whether cooking for just yourself or having a multitude over.
So next time, with a bit of an offbeat craving for comfort food, rather than relying on pulled pork, go for pulled ham. You might just find your new ultimate go-to.
